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8 Things I Wish Someone Had Told Me About the First 24 Hours With a Newborn

by Gretchen Bossio on September 14, 2017

Gretchen Bossio

About the Author

Wanna catch the inside scoop of Gretchen's life in yoga pants with a handsome husband, chatterbox daughter, and dashing little mister? Stop by her blog, That Mama Gretchen, where she chronicles her days as a natural parent who loves her slow cooker and prays for the afternoon her children decide to nap at the same time!

About the Blog

WhatToExpect.com supports Word of Mom as a place to share stories and highlight the many perspectives and experiences of pregnancy and parenting. However, the opinions expressed in this section are those of individual writers and do not reflect the views of Heidi Murkoff of the What to Expect brand.

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Congrats are in order, mama! In the last 24 hours you went from mega pregnant to mega in love with a sweet baby — your baby — who's now most likely snuggled in your arms. Isn't it the best feeling?

The feeling of love, I mean. All the other feelings — the emotions, the physical recovery, the mountain of unknowns? They're a little intimidating. At least they were for me in the very beginning.

The first day of being a new mom is a whirlwind. In that time you've accomplished so much! First, you pushed a human out of a pretty small part of your body. Or, you weathered a major surgery in order to hear your little one's first cries. Second, you're now responsible for a new life who's completely dependent on you. You may have help, but for the most part, you're the one your baby wants and needs the most during this time.

As you begin experiencing those initial moments of motherhood, here are some of the things I wish someone had told me so I could have been better prepared.

1. You'll Be on Cloud Nine

It's magical and empowering to give birth. You are woman, hear you roar! Even though you'll be physically exhausted after labor and delivery, you won't be able to help but relive it all while holding your most precious reward. It's not just regular happiness that overcomes you in the first 24 hours; it's a hormonal wave of oxytocin that floods your system, makes you glow and puts you straight on cloud nine.

2. You Won't Have Milk

It's rare for mom's milk to come in during the first 24 hours so don't expect a milky geyser quite yet! What you will start to see coming out of your breasts is a golden colostrum that's high in protein, carbohydrates and antibodies. It's just what your newborn needs. While he begins to learn to latch, suckle and soak in your smell, you can read up on what you'll need to know when the full rush of milk arrives between now and about two weeks.

3. You Can Say No to Visitors

Really, you can! During the first 24 hours, you need time to rest and heal, and your baby needs time to get to know you and your partner. You choose how the first 24 hours will go and who will be part of it. It's not about appeasing your aunt or friendly neighbor with their baby fix. And honestly, it isn't even about seeing your immediate family if you don't want to. Everyone is excited, but not everyone just experienced labor and delivery. If you want visitors, by all means, extend the invitation! But if you're hesitant, politely decline with a simple statement, "Our family needs this time alone after such an intimate experience. We will invite you to meet our baby very soon." This is your first opportunity to establish boundaries for your new family. Be brave!

4. Your Baby Will Get a Checkup

Pretty soon after birth your baby will get her first checkup. As long as your baby isn't dealing with any major concerns, you can request that this doctor appointment happen right beside you on your bed or in your room. Your baby will get an allover assessment, which will include being weighed and measured, to make sure she's as healthy as can be; undergo any initial testing you have consented to; and possibly receive her first shots, such as a vitamin K injection and hepatitis B vaccine. If you have questions, now is the time to ask! New babies can look different than we expect sometimes. For example, baby's genitalia often appears swollen and their heads can be somewhat misshapen after birth. If you have any worries, you don't want them to linger.

5. It's Essential to Spend Time in the Bathroom

From one mama to another, trust me when I say that it's helpful to get yourself to the bathroom as often as you can in the first 24 hours. Birth rocks things down there and sometimes it takes a bit for your body to reorganize and work correctly once again. Give yourself as much practice as you need by shuffling to the potty often. Take stool softeners before you need them. Use a peribottle filled with warm water to squirt as you pee to ease the sting.

6. You'll Still Look Pregnant

You may have birthed a solid eight-pound baby, but your body doesn't snap back to pre-pregnancy size in the first 24 hours. You'll still look pregnant for a few weeks and you'll still wear maternity clothes. And that's a hundred percent okay! Plan for it, expect it and roll with it. This is life as a new mom. Your body has changed and a new normal is beginning. Give yourself grace.

7. Your Baby Will Sleep — and You May Not

During the first 24 hours, most newborns will sleep 18 hours. They won't sleep consecutively, though. They will nap in two- to three-hour chunks. Every few hours they'll wake to nurse because their tummies are tiny. This is a good thing because the constant suckling will trigger your body to keep producing colostrum and kick-start milk production. So, expect to begin living the life of naps. And, yes, while you're in the hospital or have postpartum support, sleep while the baby sleeps. Everything else is being taken care of.

8. It's Time to Proactively Heal Your Lady Bits

If you had a vaginal delivery, most likely it was rough on your vagina, vulva and/or perineum. I'm so sorry! I've been there. During the first 24 hours, there's a lot you can do to proactively start healing amid the inevitable postpartum bleeding. You can use padsicles (frozen pads layered with aloe vera and witch hazel), Tucks pads and ice packs. Most of all, keep your legs together by taking small steps and avoiding stairs so your tissues can naturally heal. The more rest and support you give yourself early on, the quicker you'll recover.

Before you know it, you'll be going home with your newborn and will look forward to that first week together. A lot will be going on, but one thing will be certain: You've got this — even if it doesn't initially always feel that way. In a matter of no time, you'll be well on your way to full-steam-ahead mommyhood!

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